Safety switch-point.



J. B. COBB, JR. SAFETY SWITCH POINT.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 21, 1912.

ATTORNEYS COLUMBIA Pumomuml c0.. WASHINGTON, I). c

JOSEPH B. COBB, JR., OF SHAWNEE, OKLAHOMA.

SAFETY StVITOH-POINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Putt outed Ma r. 1 t), it t) l Application filed December 21, 1912. Serial No. 737,963.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH 1%. done, do, a citizen ot the United States, and a resident oi? Shawnee, in the county oil" Pottawatomie and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Satety Switch-Points, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in safety switch-points, and has for its object the provision of a switch-point oi the character specified, wherein the points will be at all times held in. nori'nal position regardless oi detects in the switch, stand, or the connect in g rod.

In the drawings: Figure l is a plan view ot' a switch provided with the ii'nprorcment, showing the points in normal 'iosition, the spring holding cylinder being in section. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2--2 o't .ltig. 1; and, Fig. 3 is a section on the line l 3 of Fig. 2.

The present embodiment; ot the invention is shown in connection with a pair oi sidingor low speed rails 25 and a pair of. main line or high speed rails 23. The points 1 and are l'iinged at Q, to the inncrmost members of the adjacent members of the pairs of rails 3 and 3, the rails being secured to the ties t in the usual 1nannor. The point 1 is hinged to one of the rails S and the point 1 hinged to one of the rails A plate 5 is secured to each oint near the extremity thereof, and each ot the plates is provided with a plurality of openings 6 at its outer edge. A connecting rod 7 is provided for connectin the points, the said rod beint secured to the plates 5 by means of bolts 8,each bolt passing through an opening in the rod and one of the openings (3 ot' the adjacent plate.

The operating mechanism for the switch, not shown, is connected to the rod 7 in the usual manner, by means of a link 9, the said link being connected to that end oi the rod adjacent to the operating mechanism. Wear plates 10 are secured to the ties beneath the rails, by means of spikes 11, and the points more on the wear plates.

A cylinder 12 of suitable size is secured to the tie at the ends of the points, by means of bearing lO.tlCl((itS 13, the said brackets encircling the ends of the cylinder, secured to the tie by bolts or spikes 1t. coil spring 15 is arranged in and being A the cylinder,

and a rod 'lt' has one o't its ends connected to one end of the spring, as indicated at l7, and the other end of the spring is connected to the cylinder in any suitable inanner. The rod it) is sectional, and that, section 16 oil the rod remote t'rom the spring provided with a book '18 for engaging one of the openings (3 of the plate 5 adjacent to the operating mcchanisn'i. The meeting ends of the sections 1t) 1t) are oppositely threaded, and a double not it) connects the said ends. The ends ot the nut are oppositely threaded, so that when the nut is turned the sections of the rod will be moved toward and from each other, depending upon the direction oit rotation of the not. 'lhe rod sections and the nut torn] a turnbuckle, for permitting the length of the rod, that is the connection between the spring and the plate, to be varied. A. lock nut 20 is threaded onto each iod outside the nut, "for kicking the nut in adjusted position. The rod it; passes into the cylinder, and connected to that end of the spring remote from the turnbuckle, so that, the spring acts normally to hold the points in the normal position shown. The arrangement is such, that there is from 35 to '50 pounds pressure acting to hold the points in the position shown in Fig. 1., and from 50 to ()5 pounds pressure when the points are moved to the opposite side, that is when the switch is open. In other words, 35 to 50 pounds pressure acts to hold the switch closed when it is closed, and from 50 to [munds acts to close the switch when it is open.

I claim 1. The combination with the switch points, and the rails with which the said points cooperate, of a cylinder arranged between the points, a spring within the cylinder, a sectional rod, :1 turnlmekle connection between the meeting ends of the sections of the rod, one of the sections ot' the rod extending into the cylinder and being connected with the spring, the other end of the spring being connected with the cylinder, a plate connected to each point in approximate alinementwith the cylinder, each plate having a series of openings extending longitudinally of the point, the other section of the rod having a hook for engaging one of the openings, said spring acting normally to hold the points in closed position, means for l locking the sections of the rod in adjusted position, and a connection between the points for causing the said points to move together.

2. The combination with the switch points, and the rails with which the said points cooperate, of a cylinder arranged between the points, a spring within the cylinder, a sec tional rod, a turnbuckle connection between the meeting ends of the sections of the rod, one of the sections of the rod extending into the cylinder and being connected with the spring, the other end of the spring being connected with the cylinder, the other section of the rod being connected with one of the points, said spring acting to hold the points in closed position, and a connection between the points for constraining them to move together.

ed to the spring cand the other toone of the points, said spring being connected to the 30 casing at the other end from the rod. 7

. JOSEPH B. COBB, J11. lVi tnesses W. L. CHAPMAN, W. F. VARNUM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissionernf Patents,

Washington, D. C. i 

